TEXAS FALLS SHORT OF RELEASING ENOUGH INMATES

State corrections officials are consistently falling short of a self-imposed quota of releasing 3,000 inmates a month to ease prison crowding, according to a published report Friday.

Despite record high parole approval rates, the quota system which began in September has hit its goal only one month during a six-month period, the Houston Chronicle said.An examination of Board of Pardons and Paroles records showed that 3,083 inmates were paroled in October, the only month the parolee total exceeded the monthly quota.

In September, 2,668 convicts were paroled, 2,057 were released in November, 2,441 in December, 2,241 in January and 2,422 in February.

The "revolving-door" plan was instituted last fall as a quick-fix to make room for the projected 36,000 new inmates in the coming year.